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Marijo

About Me

Saved by His grace in 1974, from 9 years of professing atheism into His loving arms. Living with my husband in the middle of a mountain meadow. GRIN! Wanting to spread the good news about His redemptive plan for our lives through written media.

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

FEAR Looming Like a Horrible Storm on Your Horizon – There Is Help!

What if I have an accident on the wintry roads? What if I lose my job? What if my husband gets laid off? What if the kids get a horrible disease? What if someone is breaking into the house tonight?

We get to be really good at “what if-ing” if we aren’t careful. I am sure the enemy will whisper some of these ideas in our ears if we aren’t thinking them up ourselves. Is that your focus? Is that where your mind naturally goes?

1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

1 John 4:16

And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

“Perfect Love casts out all fear….” My word picture might not be the intended meaning of this portion of scripture but it was very powerful for me. Who/what is perfect love? God, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit are perfect love. God is love and there can be no one more perfect than God. The picture that came to me is my most powerful savior coming on my behalf and taking those dark, ominous storm clouds replete with lightening, thunder and throwing death at me… God came and cast them out – away from me to a place where they could no longer impact me – not with one tiny sprinkle or shiver. Jesus did it and they were gone!

Then I thought of the times recorded where Jesus was taken by the Holy Spirit (yes, the Holy Spirit) into the wilderness.

Matthew 4:1

[ Satan Tempts Jesus ] Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

How did our Lord, savior and prime example respond? “It is written….” And he quoted God’s Word to Satan over and over.

Apparently Satan can argue with you and me but he cannot argue with God’s Word. It looks like that is a sure fire way to get the enemy to hush up and leave. All we need to do is have a stockpile of ammunition ready (God’s word memorized or maybe even a topical book of promises if you haven’t memorized yet) and use it.

Matthew 4 (New King James Version)

Satan Tempts Jesus

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. 3Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘ He shall give His angels charge over you, ’and,‘ In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”7 Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the LORD your God.’ 8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

When you are fearful, aren’t you really saying that your God is not big enough for your circumstances? Or that the promises he makes in the Bible are for someone else but not really for you? Knowing these scriptures helps you to see what he has promised on your behalf and to get them into your heart and mind so they are ready when you need them.

James 4:7

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (NKJV)

That is a most powerful promise! It doesn’t say he might flee, or maybe in a couple of days he will go…. It says he WILL flee from you. I think the key is not our spouting off at him or ranting and raving but being submitted to God. Realizing HE has done it all on our behalf and taking Him at His Word.

Here is the kind of fear we are to have, this and only this fear:

1 Samuel 12:24

Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you. (NKJV)

Psalm 115:11

You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield. (NKJV)

Proverbs 9:10

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (NKJV)

Maybe you can think back to recent times when things looked impossible, you were afraid AND God came through on your behalf in a creative and unexpected way. It never hurts to review those times of His faithfulness.

Now let’s take a look at His Word. There are many scriptures which speak of God’s promises and would help you stand against ungodly fear.

Psalm 23:4

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. (NKJV)

Will we never have troubles or times of trial? NO, but God will be right there with us, walking us through so that we are able to “fear no evil”.

Psalm 27:1

[ A Psalm of David. ] The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? (NKJV)

David had much to fear in the natural. Saul pursued him and tried to kill him over and over. David, in spite of his choices and sin, chose to believe God and God’s plan for his life. His trust is reflected in many, many of his writings like the Psalm above. They are there today for us to think upon and hang onto in our stormy times.

Another most powerful weapon against fear is prayer, communication with the Lord Jesus Christ:

Psalm 34:4

I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears (NKJV)

Psalm 46:1-3 (New King James Version)

1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed,

And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah

Have you ever noticed that the enemy cannot stand to hear the praises of God? During a worship service or when you praise him privately? He usually leaves. Praise is also a big weapon against fear. Worship songs or choruses or scripture that you sing.

When I “what-if” I am really saying that my God isn’t quite big enough to handle the problem. I know from His Word that is not true and I know from experience. There is something about declaring that out loud too. There is really no better way that saying “it is written” and quoting a scripture which applies to your situation and circumstance.

(You might also enjoy reading my piece entitled “FEAR – Good Fear, Bad Fear – Is There Really a “Good” Fear” which addresses the different types of fear.)